Abstract

Polyelectrolyte membranes (PEMs) have gained much attention in the last decade, mainly due to their potential industrial
applications. This work aims to develop sulfonate functionalized sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC)-based PEMs and
evaluate their application in drug delivery, toxic metal ion removal, and fuel cells. In the first attempt of this work, graft
copolymers are synthesized, that is, NaCMC-g-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulphonic acid (NaCMC-g-AMPS) and
NaCMC-g-4-vinylbenzene sulfonate (NaCMC-g-SVBS). In the second attempt, prepared PEMs of sodium carboxymethyl
cellulose (NaCMC)-based graft-copolymers (that are NaCMC-g-AMPS and NaCMC-g-SVBS) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)
along with their composites with phosphomolybdic acid (PMA). Graft copolymers as well as PEMs are characterized by the
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy,
and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The fabricated PEMs were studied for their adeptness in drug delivery, heavy metal ion
removal, and fuel cell applications. All the developed PEMs exhibited significant swelling at room temperature and a high ionic
exchange capacity. PMA-doped PEMs were studied further in terms of methanol permeability, and proton conductivity. PMA
undoped PEMs demonstrated controlled release characteristics for the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil and as a sorbent for the
removal of Cu2+ metal ions